From the "Biz" Archives:
BIZ Articles Listed Alphabetically
Biz Briefs for the week of 12/14/98
Glass, Wilson Launch Digital Opera; NY Crix Dyin' For "Ryan"; Miramax Nabs "Hamlet"; October Picks Lik Flick; Redeemable Gets "Mad" With Talkington; "Out of Sight" and Boorman Nab Beantown Honors; DGA Names Adler Assoc. National Director; Miramax Nabs "Everest" TV + Home Vid Rights, Inks Deal With X-Filme; "Ryan" Tops L.A. Critics Picks, indies fare well (December 14, 1998)
Biz Buzz -- Considering Deal-making on the Rivera
indieWIRE's Eugene Hernandez takes a look at the deal making and wide range of opinions about the 2001 Cannes International Film Festival. (May 23, 2001)
Biz Buzz from the Croisette: "Long Way Home" and "Roger Dodger" Acquired; "Le Cercle Rouge" Coming to America via Cannes
Biz attendees were buzzing earlier this week in Cannes following two market screenings of one of the few American indies at this year's festival, Peter Sollett's Un Certain Regard feature "Long Way Home." Samuel Goldwyn and Fireworks beat other distributors to the punch Wednesday to acquire the picture, according to sources in Cannes; At the Cannes Market, Artisan Pictures has acquired the North American distribution rights to "Roger Dodger," writer/director Dylan Kidd's debut feature; And, Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Cercle Rouge," screening tomorrow in Cannes in a restored form, will be coming to America, opening with a limited theatrical run at New York's Film Forum. (May 23, 2002)
Biz Buzz in Park City; Redford Talks Docs, and the Fest Circuit
While the Festival is by all accounts quieter, biz circles heated up over the weekend as a few noteworthy films hit industry radar; Sundance has increased the documentary presence at the festival with each successive year, but yesterday the organization took that commitment to a new level with Robert Redford's announcement that the Sundance Channel will create a new station devoted entirely to documentary programming; Taking a cue from the Formula One circuit and the PGA golf tour, The US Film Festivals Circuit has announced that ten film festivals will participate in an inaugural series linking national sponsors with notable U.S. festivals. (January 14, 2002)
Biz Buzz in Toronto; Film Centre Dollars
As the business week gets underway, buzz surrounds a few Toronto festival films. Following a weekend of anticipated premieres, the dust settles and observers begin to make sense of the landscape; And, Typically referred to by name-droppers as "The Norman Jewison BBQ," the Canadian Film Centre's 14th annual festival BBQ drew crowds to the organization's grassy campus. (September 10, 2001)
Black Cinema Out Paces Independents, NYU Study Reveals Room To Grow
"Black and Urban" films account for over $200 million, (3.5-5%) of the annual domestic box office based on only 13-16 releases per year compared to "Independent Film" which accounts for $225 million, (4-6%) of the box office with over 30-35 films per year; according to a study from NYU School of Law. (February 11, 1998)
Blacked Out in NYC, A Report from the Scene; Toronto Additions; Docs On Tour and More
In this week's buzz-worthy news, indieWIRE faces dark computers during a blackout, a report from the high times and low-brow eats at the "American Splendor" party in New York. Plus, additions to this year's Toronto International Film Festival lineup, including a gala for "Out of Time" starring Denzel Washington. In other news, Miramax acquires rights to the novel and film rights of the hip-hop tale "Bling," and other news from MGM, Rainbow Media, the Hamptons International Film Festival, the International Documentary Association, and more. Wendy Mitchell reports in indieWIRE's weekly BUZZ column. (August 15, 2003)
Blacklisted Film, "Salt of the Earth," Will Have Remake
Award-winning director David Riker will helm a remake of the 1953 film, "Salt of the Earth." The project, announced recently at a conference hosted by the College of Santa Fe, gives the true story of a strike at a zinc mine in New Mexico by predominately Mexican-American workers who overcame tremendous pressure by the Anglo dominated management. (March 06, 2003)
Blacklisted Filmmaker Dies; Latino Films in SD
Blacklisted filmmaker Edward Dmytryk has died in Los Angeles; also, a report on the San Diego Latino Film Festival on the road. (July 06, 1999)
Blackwell's Palm d' Chicago; "Nudity" Acquired; Foundy Finds Hollywood; New WNET Chair; and more...
indieWIRE's new BIZ BRIEFS is an occassional section devoted to the latest biz-related news from Hollywood to Indiewood and beyond. It includes a wide array of biz news. (June 02, 1998)
"Blair" Adds $24M; "Drylongso" Wins at Urbanworld
"The Blair Witch Project" remained a box-office force to be reckoned with this weekend as it toppled Hollywood movies and remained at the number two spot on the national list, and Cauleen Smith's "Drylongso" won the top award at the 1999 Urbanworld Film Festival. (August 09, 1999)
"Blair Witch" Madness Continues; Sundance/UCLA Native Workshop
More on the Blair Witch in New York, also Sundance and UCLA name the participants in the NAtive Screenwriting Workshop. (July 14, 1999)
"Blair Witch" Prequel; iCAST Launch; IFP West Plans
Artisan OK's New "Blair Witch" Project, Top Execs Have Left, But iCASTER Still Makes Planned L.A. Debut, IFP/West offers new services. (November 22, 1999)
"Blair Witch" Tops $100 Million; TCM's Century of Docs; NYFF Lineup; Taco Bell Dog Voice
&qhot;The Blair Witch Project&qhot; achieves an indie landmark with its $15 million grosses this weekend; Turner Classic Movies will offer a Look at a century of documentary movies; The New York Film Fest Lineup is out; and the voice of the Taco Bell chihuahua hits the stage. (August 16, 1999)
"Blair Witch" v. "Last Broadcast" -- Has It Really Come to This?
Last week the national press examined the alleged similarities between "The Blair Witch Project" and "The Last Broadcast,", they made a few leaps and connected a few dots, creating a media frenzy that was more about the sensation than the facts. Fueled by a local newspaper article and two Pennsylvania filmmakers -- Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler -- seeking publicity for their own movie, the press latched onto the story and implied that "Blair Witch" was a rip-off of Avalos and Weiler's "Broadcast." After talking with both camps, Eugene Hernandez creates a timeline, comments on the allegations and explores the aftermath of the media circus. (August 09, 1999)
"Blair's" Big Weekend; Roodman to On2.com; Manga's Anime; IFC's "Performance"
"The Blair Witch Project" snapped up $2 million en route to this weekend's 1,000 screen national expansion, meanwhile a former Miramax exec leaves the company again, this time for a digital media start-up, Manga takes on three Anime pix, and the IFC offers a British cult classic. (July 26, 1999)
Blame it on The Matrix? Specialty Openers Go Slow
"The Matrix" ruled the weekend, even showing on three screens at the usually un-Hollywoodish Angelika in Manhattan. The specialty box office openers fared comparatively slimmer. A couple of exceptions, however, were the debut of Ken Loach's "Sweet Sixteen" and the Los Angeles bow of Matthew Barney's "Cremaster Cycle," which showed strength. Meanwhile, box office stalwarts "Winged Migration" and "Nowhere in Africa" continued with winning numbers, while others showed signs of slowing. Brian Brooks reports in indieWIRE's weekly box office report. (May 20, 2003)
Blasé BOT Shows a Little "Testosterone"
Strand Releasing's "Testosterone" brawned its way to number one among the specialty releases, topping a rather ho-hum weekend for indies. Palm Pictures released critically lauded "Reconstruction," taking the second position on the chart, as ranked on a per screen basis. Destination Films/Samuel Goldwyn Films' Korean pic "Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War" displayed some box office stamina, as well as Wellspring's road thriller, "Red Lights." And, the chart's big four, "Napoleon Dynamite," "Vanity Fair," "Garden State," and "Hero" once again consumed the bulk of the overall specialty cume, although their largesse shrank marginally. Brian Brooks reports. (September 15, 2004)
Blitz and Friends, Capturing the American Family in "Spellbound"
Since debuting at SXSW last year, Jeff Blitz's documentary, "Spellbound," has had a charmed life on the film-festival circuit that was capped by an Oscar nomination for best documentary of 2002. After seeing the film at a festival screening last year, I took my parents to see it a few days later and they loved it as much as I did. The film -- a moving, hilarious, and thrilling look at a group of kids competing in the National Spelling Bee, debuted at Film Forum this week. Eugene Hernandez reports. (May 01, 2003)
Blockbuster Makin' Moves, Microsoft Continues to Advance on RealNetworks, AOLTV, and Akamai Streams
Blockbuster Makes Another Move Into Next-Gen Entertainment with AtomFilms Agreement, Microsoft Continues Advance on RealNetworks by Offering Pay-per-view Technology, AOL Sneaks AOL TV, Akamai Gets Serious about Streaming. ( 14, 2000)
Block's "Home Page" Links with IFC; IDA Changes
Docmaker Doug Block debuts his "Home Page" on IFC's new DV Theater continuing his creative distribution. Meanwhile, the IDA is searching for a new leader following the resignation of Betsey McLane. (July 19, 2000)
Bloomberg Signs Tax Incentive Legislation to Lure Productions to NYC
New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recently signed into law a five percent city tax credit for qualified film and television productions as part of the "Made in NY" incentive program as outlined in his State of the City address, which he officially unveiled last August. The new law will allow a 5% refundable tax credit for film and television production companies as well as the 10% tax credit qualified productions receive from New York State. Brian Brooks reports. (January 06, 2005)
Blow Up and Killer Films team on Minahan Project; High Def Pioneer
Writer-director Dan Minahan (co-writer of "I Shot Andy Warhol" begins shooting new feature; New High Definition Feature being shot just outside of Manhattan. (November 19, 1999)
"Blue" Doc, "Godzilla" and "Samurai" Deals, Micro DVDs, Vail Fest, & More
The holiday slowdown hasn't hit yet, there's plenty of news (and parties) to keep us busy. In film news, Miramax gets a doc, Rialto Pictures plans a re-release of "Godzilla," and Empire Pictures picks up the Japanese hit "The Twilight Samurai." Plus, Microcinema International launches and ambitious DVD label and distribution program. Elsewhere, a film festival starts in Vail, Sundance gets some famous hosts, and the college critics weigh in. Wendy Mitchell reports. (December 12, 2003)
Bob Berney's New Gig - Picturehouse - Launched in Cannes; Slate and Staff Unveiled
Announcing a slate of nine films including Gus Van Sant's Cannes competition entry "Last Days," as well as key staff and a philosophical outlook, the principles of the previously unnamed HBO/New Line venture headed by former Newmarket chief Bob Berney gathered early Friday morning for a briefing. At the Majestic Hotel in Cannes, Berney revealed initial plans for the newest mini-major, Picturehouse. Brian Brooks reports from Cannes. (May 13, 2005)
"Bolivia" and Beyond; Ibero-American Heat Hits U.S.
With the U.S. market now seemingly receptive, a new group of Ibero-American (Spanish and Portuguese language) films are poised to hit theaters. Just this past weekend in Miami, seven esteemed emerging filmmakers gathered at the Miami International Film Festival for Miami Encuentros. And today in New York, fledgling non-profit organization Cinema Tropical opens its first theatrical release "Bolivia," the second feature from Uruguay-born Adrian Caetano. Anthony Kaufman reports in indieWIRE's biweekly World Cinema Report. (February 26, 2003)
"Bon Voyage" Sails to High Debut; Focus Features Takes "Eternal Sunshine" Wide
Jean Paul Rappeneau's "Bon Voyage" touched down at the specialty box office pinnacle last weekend, with a sensational opening engagement at the Paris Theater in New York, knocking off last week's topper, "Games People Play: New York," which still remained a competitor in fourth place on the chart, as ranked by per screen average. "James' Journey to Jerusalem" increased its average over last week, while "The Passion of the Christ" expanded slightly, reining in continued large audiences. Brian Brooks reports. (March 24, 2004)
"Bon Voyage" Tops Specialty Box Office Once Again; "Dogville" a Very Close Second
"Bon Voyage" made a repeat trip to the top of the specialty box office, as more screens were added after debuting last week at one site. "Dogville" debuted in theaters, capturing the second position on the list of films as measured by per screen average. Zeitgeist sat in third place with its feature, "Divan," while "Good Bye, Lenin!" and "The Passion of the Christ" maintained strong numbers. Brian Brooks reports. (March 31, 2004)
Box Office Battles: A Look at 2003 for 25 Indie and Specialty Distributors
A survey of film distributors emphasized that times remain competitive and tough in the independent and specialty film marketplace. Looking back at 2003's box office numbers, indieWIRE is profiling the performance of films from 25 independent and Indiewood theatrical distribution companies that were active this year. We sent an email requesting comments on their performance to people at each of the 25 companies. We asked reps to react to their own company's performance as well the broader state of film distribution this year. Eugene Hernandez reports. (December 30, 2003)
Box Office Noon for "Sunset" as "Fahrenheit" Maintains Sizzle in Further Expansion
Richard Linklater's "Before Sunset" dawned atop the specialty box office over the holiday weekend in limited release, edging out last weekend's nationwide number one film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," which scored second following a huge expansion over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Fox Searchlight's "The Clearing" bowed in theaters, while Zeitgeist's political doc "The Corporation" returned to the top tier of the iW: BOT, as ranked by per screen average. Regent's "The Hunting of the President," meanwhile, gained some holiday steam in the top ten along with other recent openers. Brian Brooks reports. (July 08, 2004)
BOX-OFFICE REPORT: "Amandla" and "Open Hearts" Among New Indie and Specialty Releases
A number of new documentaries and foreign-language films are among the indie and specialty films currently competing for attention at arthouses and multiplexes. Artisan's release of the Sundance award-winner, "Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony," debuted last week earning $14,418 over the weekend. The doc earned a total of $19,904 on one screen in its first five days of release. It will hit theaters in Los Angeles and Chicago this week and other cities throughout the month of March. Eugene Hernandez reports. (February 25, 2003)
Box-Office Report: "Bend it Like Beckham" Scores in its Opening; "Spun" Does Well in New York
"Bend it Like Beckham" scored a winning goal at the box office this past weekend in limited release, while Newmarket's "Spun" also shot up solid numbers at its sole New York venue. "Laurel Canyon" continued well in its second weekend as more screens were added, while "Safety of Objects" increased its average in fewer venues. Brian Brooks reports in indieWIRE's weekly box-office column. (March 18, 2003)
Box-Office Report: "Hable" con Dinero; "Confessions" and "Chicago" Have Strong Numbers; Film Forum Puts on the "Rouge"
In this week's box-office news, Spanish hit "Hable con Ella" ("Talk to Her") increased its number of screens, and its box office numbers, while Miramax's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" and "Chicago" cashed in as well. The '70s French film "Le Cercle Rouge" opened to sell outs at New York's Film Forum, and Cowboy's "Morvern Callar" cashes in during its fourth week, while "Slaughter Rule" opens quietly. Also, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" passes yet another box-office threshold. Brian Brooks reports. (January 14, 2003)
Box-Office Report: "Laurel Canyon" and "Irreversible" Fly High in Limited Release as "The Quiet American" Expands
"Laurel Canyon" opened last weekend, winding up the road to high grosses, while France's "Irreversible" seduced audiences in L.A. and New York. "The Safety of Objects" opened more cautiously and Oscar-nominated "The Quiet American" nearly doubled its number of screenings. Brian Brooks reports in indieWIRE's weekly box office story. (March 11, 2003)
"Boys and Girl from County Clare" to Debut Annual Film Fleadh
The seventh annual CRAIC Film Fleadh will open tomorrow night (Wednesday) in New York with "The Boys and Girl from County Clare," starring Andrea Corr, lead singer of The Corrs, and Colm Meaney, both of whom are expected to attend at the Loews 34th St. theater screening. The feature will launch the annual event which spotlights Irish and Irish-American fair March 2-5, including several New York premieres. Andrew McCarthy's directorial debut short, "News for the Church" will precede the film. Brian Brooks reports. (March 01, 2005)
Braitman Tapped for New Doc Fest; and Sarasota Fest News
International Film Financing Conference (IFFCON) founder Wendy Braitman has been appointed to head The Silver: AFI/Discovery Documentary Festival, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced earlier this week. And, The Sarasota Film Festival closed its 4th annual event Saturday with an announcement of this year's prize winners. (January 30, 2002)
Brazilian Congressman Denied Visa to Attend Premiere of "Four Days In September"
Miramax is working "behind the scenes" to help Brazilian Congressman Fernando Gabeira obtain a visa to the United States, against the wishes of the American Ambassador to Brazil, Melvin Levitsky. Gabeira is the subject of the upcoming film, "Four Days In September," being distributed by Miramax. (January 29, 1998)
Breaking News from Cannes, also: Security, Gitail, and Michael Moore; Also, Miramax and Sony Classics Acquisitions, and a new "Dogtown"
Bowling for Columbine" was acquired today after a rousing reception at the Festival de Cannes. Also, news from Miramax. And, as the sun-bathed Mediterranean town of Cannes fills up yet again with cineastes from around the world, a new obstacle is greeting the masses: security guards waving metal detector wands and checking every bag and purse. Safety is the rule at the 55th Cannes Film Festival, and each inspection is a subtle but persistent reminder that the World's most media-saturated film festival is also a logical, though hopefully unlikely, target for terrorism. Also from France, Sony Pictures Classics has jumpstarted its presence in Cannes, announcing the acquisition of all U.S. rights for the Alliance Atlantis film, "Owning Mahowny" directed by Richard Kwietniowski. In other news, Miramax has acquired the rights to Brazilian director Fernando Mereilles' "Cidade de Deus" (City of God); Stacy Peralta, director of the acclaimed skate doc, "Dogtown and Z-Boys," has written the script for the narrative feature, "Lords of Dogtown," a new film that will be directed by Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst. (May 17, 2002)
Breakthroughs of the Year; The Films, People, and Trends That Defined 2003
As we look back on the year in independent film, we thought it was an ideal time to look at the people, films, and companies that represented the breakthroughs of 2003. These selections might not all compete for Oscars, but they helped define the year in indie film for us. There's no scientific criteria for determining our breakthroughs - some had huge years at the box office, some didn't - but these were the people, trends, companies, and films that rose to a new level in 2003. Eugene Hernandez and Wendy Mitchell look at 10 breakouts. (December 15, 2003)
Breillat and Toth Share Top Award at Philly Fest
Catherine Breillat's "Anatomy of Hell" shared the best feature film award with Ferenc Toth's "Unknown Soldier" at the 2004 Philadelphia Film Festival. David Lebrun's "Proteus" won jury the award for best documentary. The festival, which closed last week with record attendance, showcased best director Ulrike Koch for "Asshak: Tales of the Sahara," while Andrew Goode's "Love Tricycle" won the jury award for animated short. Eugene Hernandez reports. (April 27, 2004)
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